After hearing Wang Yongwu’s words, the Duke of Huguo couldn’t help but curse inwardly: “What a little fox—so slippery.”
“Yongwu,” the Duke said calmly, “the root of this matter lies with this Tian Shi. To untie a bell, one must find the person who tied it. Why don’t we start from her?”
His tone was calm, but his eyes never left Wang Yongwu. He wanted to see exactly who the Marquis Manor was protecting so fiercely.
As expected of an old fox—one sentence struck right at the core of the issue.
Wang Yongwu silently cursed back: old fox.
“Father-in-law,” he replied, “Tian Shi was originally a dowry maid from the Duke’s residence. She was only elevated to concubine after Madam became pregnant.”
The Duke frowned. Inwardly, he grew even more irritated—this idiot couldn’t even manage a household servant properly.
“Yongwu,” he said coldly, “although Tian Shi was a dowry maid, once she was promoted to concubine, she became a member of the Marquis Manor. Hand over her contract to the old madam.”
He specifically asked for it to be given to the old madam because concubines fell under the management of the inner household.
The Old Madam accepted the contract and said, “Duke, since this matter is to be handled privately, I suggest sending the culprit’s daughter-in-law to the family temple for a period of reflection. As for when she returns, it will depend on her attitude.”
“As for Tian Shi, our Marquis Manor will also send her away. However, we cannot claim she was sold, as she is not at fault. To avoid complications, we will issue her a letter of release, freeing her from her status and severing all ties with the Marquis Manor.”
The Duke of Huguo assumed this was the Marquis Manor yielding to the Duke’s authority, and he was quite satisfied with their attitude.
Little did he know, Tian Shi’s removal had nothing to do with him—it was entirely due to Wang Yutong.
The confession Wang Yutong provided had forced the Marquis Manor to send Tian Shi to Wang Yutong’s estate for protection.
It was also Wang Yutong’s instruction through Awu: Tian Shi should be sent away temporarily to avoid retaliation from the Duke’s residence.
Thus, before the Marquis Manor even formally sent someone to the Duke’s residence, Awu had already quietly taken Tian Shi away.
After repeated discussions, both sides finally reached an agreement.
As compensation, the Duke of Huguo personally gave fifty thousand taels of silver to the Marquis Manor.
The Old Madam accepted it and stated that if Madam Cui corrected her behavior quickly, she could be reinstated within a year or so—after all, the Marquis Manor could not remain without a mistress for long.
Although the Duke lost a large sum of money, he was satisfied that Madam Cui remained in the Marquis Manor and did not bring shame to his own household.
As for the Marquis Manor, receiving fifty thousand taels was secondary. What pleased them most was achieving Wang Yutong’s goal of removing Tian Shi, and also gaining leverage over Madam Cui.
This unexpected advantage delighted the Old Madam greatly.
In recent years, Madam Cui had relied on the Duke’s backing to act arrogantly within the manor, committing many foolish acts. Even toward the Old Marquis and Old Madam, her respect had been insufficient, and her contempt had been obvious.
This had long made the Old Madam eager to deal with her.
After sending the Duke away, the three main figures of authority in the Marquis Manor gathered to discuss the next steps.
“Father, this silver…” Wang Yongwu looked at the fifty thousand taels and couldn’t help but ask softly.
That amount equaled nearly a year’s total income of the entire Marquis Manor.
It was impossible not to be tempted.
“This money cannot be kept by the Marquis Manor,” the Old Marquis said calmly. “I will add another ten thousand taels and send it all to Sixth Girl.”
“What?”“What?”
Both the Old Madam and Wang Yongwu exclaimed in shock, looking at him with identical expressions of disbelief.
The Old Marquis glanced at them lightly, then calmly took a sip of tea.
Without answering their shock, he asked instead, “Madam, if you were the one who discovered this matter, what would you do?”
The Old Madam thought to herself: Of course I would repay eye for eye.
But she said instead, “What else could I do? Naturally, I would capture them and punish them severely.”
The Old Marquis shook his head and said seriously, “I am asking what you would do if you were in Sixth Girl’s position. Tell me the truth, not polite words.”
The Old Madam felt that a wrong answer would anger him, so after a moment of hesitation, she answered honestly:
“Then I would repay them tenfold or a hundredfold. Whoever dared to harm my mother, I would make sure they suffer the same fate—or worse.”
The Old Marquis nodded, approving her answer.
Then he turned to Wang Yongwu.
“Yongwu, what would you do?”
Thinking back to his parents’ answers, Wang Yongwu replied without hesitation:
“I would draw my sword and kill her—and everyone around her.”
The Old Marquis also nodded.
“This is the normal reaction,” he said slowly.
“However, normal does not mean correct. Any of your methods would bring disaster to the Marquis Manor.”
He continued:
“The Old Madam’s method would destroy the reputation of the household mistress and stain the Marquis Manor. Such a person would drive all noble families away.”
“And your method, Yongwu, would not only destroy the Marquis Manor’s reputation but also create a deadly feud with the Duke of Huguo. The Duke would become our enemy.”
“When I am gone, the Duke’s residence would certainly step on the Marquis Manor.”
“Do you understand this situation?”
Both of them broke out in a cold sweat.
Yes—they had only considered their own anger, not the political consequences.
The Old Marquis continued:
“Neither method is optimal. Both sides would suffer greatly.”
“However, Sixth Girl’s method preserved the dignity of both families and even made the Duke feel gratitude instead of humiliation.”
“That is why the Duke was willing to give fifty thousand taels so readily.”
“You think he gave it for Madam Cui? Of course not.”
“A discarded daughter is not worth such a price.”
“He did it for the future of the Duke’s descendants—especially those of marriageable age.”
“Otherwise, if Madam Cui’s actions were exposed, and the Duke’s daughters were seen as disregarding family interests and their husband’s honor, who would dare marry them?”